Bobby Southworth copes with loss, eyes second shot at "Babalu"

SAN JOSE, Calif. – Bobby Southworth (9-6) entered Friday’s “Strikeforce: Destruction” bout with Renato “Babalu” Sobral in the best shape of his life.

But a well-placed elbow late in the first round by his opponent left Southworth’s face a bloody mess — and Strikeforce with a new light-heavyweight title holder.

“Any time you lose a fight it’s disappointing,” Southworth said at the event’s post-fight press conference. “It’s just unfortunate. I thought I was winning the fight and then I got cut. What are you going to do?”

A veteran of the premier season of “The Ultimate Fighter,” Southworth was the talk of the event’s official weigh-in. Entering what was sure to be the biggest test of his career, Southworth was lean, focused and obviously well-prepared.

The former champion said his new physique was the result of an entirely different training process.

“I’m always in the gym, always training,” Southworth said. “As you watch the sport evolve, you’ve seen the evolution of certain fighters that are elevating their game. Everybody has a strength and conditioning coach. They have a nutritionist. I’ve always had people that worked me out, people that have certifications. But I’ve never really had real kinesiologists or nutritionists put together a nutrition package and be there working me out four days a week. I had that for this fight.”

Unfortunately the chiseled Southworth fell short in defending his belt.

“Everybody for the past five weeks has been commentating on how good I look,” Southworth said. “I don’t really care about that. I’m not a bodybuilder. If I looked like Fedor (Emelianenko) and I performed like Fedor, I’d be happy with that.

“I looked like me and I came out with a loss. What can you say?”

While Southworth performed admirably throughout the majority of the first round, a slashing elbow from Sobral forced a wound over Southworth’s right eye. While initial inspections of the laceration didn’t halt the contest, a second look at the end of the first round was enough for ringside officials to call a stop to the bout.

Southworth refused to question the doctor’s decision.

“I’ve said many times that you can’t really complain about stoppages,” Southworth said. “The officials are in there and their primary concern is your safety. As a fighter, we’ll fight to the death. Thankfully this isn’t ancient Rome. And there are people in there to stop it before the lions eat us alive.

“I can’t complain. It’s just unfortunate.”

Instead of looking back at the evening’s events, Southworth said he will immediately focus on a chance to reclaim his title.

“I definitely would like to fight a rematch,” Southworth said. “What’s the point of fighting somebody below [Sobral’s] status?

“My main concern is to get my belt back. When you lose on a cut, you don’t feel that you’ve been beaten. You still feel like the belt is yours. And I still feel that way.

“I know ‘Babalu’ is the champ. And he’s already stated he’ll give me a rematch. Hopefully that will happen as soon as possible.”

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